Gavin Otto grew up playing AAA hockey in Colorado and spent the last two seasons honing his game with Pine Creek High School.

Next season, the Colorado Springs native is off to junior hockey in the USPHL after recently signing with the Metro Jets, a perennial contender located just mere minutes northeast of Detroit in Mount Clemens, Mich.

“I was first interested in the Metro Jets after a bit of research on junior teams up in Michigan,” Otto said. “After that, I was invited out to a weekend tournament where I played a few games and talked to the coach about staying there. The Metro Jets organization is widely known for their amazing development program and their even better records throughout the years and I knew it would be the best place for me to advance as a player and a person, both on and off the ice.”

This past season with Pine Creek “really taught me the value of leadership and the effects it has on the team,” said Otto.

“As the senior captain, I felt that this last season was truly an incredible experience to really know my capabilities with the players,” said Otto.

Born in Colorado Springs, Otto said that was where he began his hockey journey.

“When I was about three or four, my father and I always went to the public skates at Sertich Ice Center, and it’s where my love for the game comes from,” explained Otto. “I started playing it because I knew it was something I could stick with my entire life. I also knew it would bring me places and show me opportunities most people would never receive.”

Once his career took off, Otto skated for the Colorado Rampage and Colorado Springs Tigers at the AAA level and then from 2023-25 at Pine Creek.

“Through those years, I’ve found my high school coaches to be the most influential on my life,” Otto said. “Ed Saxer and Hal Jordan were incredible coaches who pushed us the way that hockey needed to be played and I can’t thank them enough for the positive impact they’ve had on me and my life. This year’s new coaches, Chris Moses and Maddy Moses, kept the spirit of hockey with the team after our old head coach, Ed Saxer, unfortunately left.”

Looking ahead, it’s all about setting goals, hitting the mark, and then setting new goals for Otto.

“Short-term goals concerning hockey would be to have an amazing start to the season with the Metro Jets,” said Otto. “It’s where I’m going to live and I want people to know that I will play my part to the best of my abilities. Long term, I’d like to eventually reach the college level, doesn’t matter what level, but I want to know for myself that I am good enough and the dedication that everyone has put into me has paid off. For school life, short-term and long-term, I want to have a steady class schedule come my time with the Metro Jets, and once that’s over, start looking for opportunities with colleges to eventually get to that level.”

Photo/Justin Crosby

— Matt Mackinder

(July 6, 2025)